North Korea
At a glance
- Official languages
- Korean, North Korean standard language
- Currency
- North Korean won (KPW)
- Government
- Socialist state
- Legislature
- Supreme People's Assembly
- Demonym
- North Korean
- Time zone
- UTC+09:00
- Driving side
- Right
- Calling code
- +850
- Internet TLD
- .kp
- ISO 3166
- KP
- Established
- 1948
- Highest point
- Baekdu Mountain (2,744 m (9,003 ft))
- National anthem
- Aegukka
Facts via Wikidata.
Economy and developmentLow income
Ranks are among sovereign countries with data; ★ marks a top-5% finish. Sources: World Bank Open Data and Our World in Data (UNDP, UN, V-Dem; CC BY 4.0). Each figure is the most recent year available.
Alliances & Organisations1 full membership
Political & Economic
Full memberDashed border = Candidate / ApplicantItalic = Dialogue / Observer
Leadership History3 leaders · click to expand
⚠️ Kim Jong-un✦ Current
2011–PresentSupreme Leader
⚠️ Kim Jong-il
1994–2011Supreme Leader
⚠️ Kim Il-sung
1948–1994Supreme Leader
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| ⚠️ Kim Jong-un✦ Current | Supreme Leader | 2011–Present |
| ⚠️ Kim Jong-il | Supreme Leader | 1994–2011 |
| ⚠️ Kim Il-sung | Supreme Leader | 1948–1994 |
Power over timeThe Power Atlas →
The powerline is the headline share of world power, running from the state’s first ranked year (benchmark estimates with wide error bars before 1816). Latent power is material mass a state could mobilise (population, manpower, heavy industry). Recognised power is what the system actually treats it as (military spending, productive economy, reach, and status such as a Security Council seat or nuclear arsenal). When latent runs above recognised, a power is rising or under-rated; when recognised runs higher, it is punching above its weight or coasting on prestige. Material sub-indices run 1816 through 2016.
Conflicts since 19454 interstate wars · click to expand
| Conflict | Years | Against | Combat deaths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russo-Ukrainian War● | 2014–present | Ukraine | 400,000–650,000 |
| Korean DMZ Conflict | 1966–1969 | South Korea,United States | 739+ |
| Vietnam War● | 1965–1973 | South Vietnam,United States,South Korea,Thailand,Australia,New Zealand,Laos,Khmer Republic,Philippines | 1,326,494–3,447,494 |
| Korean War [ 9 ]● | 1950–1953 | UN Command,South Korea,United States,United Kingdom,Australia,Belgium,Canada,France,Philippines,Colombia,Ethiopia,Greece,Luxembourg,Netherlands,New Zealand,South Africa,Thailand,Turkey | 2,568,927–4,096,927 |
Bold = principal belligerent. Source: Wikipedia, “List of interstate wars since 1945.”
National Teams
North Korea on the international stage. Click a card for the full record.
Administrative subdivisions
13 entries listed under North Korea across 2 types. Click any to see its metros and footprint.
Provinces (9)
Cities (4)
North Korea metro footprint
2 of 7 metrosPolygons shaded by composite tier. Hover for rank, click to open the metro page. Boundaries derived from Overture Maps administrative divisions; metros without source coverage are omitted.
7 tracked metros
| Rank | Metro | State | Population | Score | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #238 | Pyongyang★ Capital▲ Largest | Pyongyang | 4.5M | 11.8 | Regional Hub |
| #2779 | Hamhung | South Hamgyong | 769K | 0.3 | Local Metro |
| #2908 | Chongjin | North Hamgyong | 668K | 0.2 | Local Metro |
| #2961 | Wonsan | Kangwŏn-do | 486K | 0.2 | Local Metro |
| #3048 | Sinuiju | North Pyongan | 359K | 0.1 | Local Metro |
| #3079 | Kaechon | South Pyongan | 320K | 0.1 | Local Metro |
| #3099 | Sunchon | South Pyongan | 297K | 0.1 | Local Metro |